At least against one euro per kilo cheaperwill be sold this year the “master of the Easter table o lamb on the spit -compared to last year when it was 12.80-13.80 euros per kilo- due to the adequacy of the Greek market and the reduction in the purchasing power of Greek consumers, which is estimated at over 40% this year (September data).

Butchers and breeders may declare with the same fervor that they are “direct, good partners”, but as it was seen in today’s joint interview in Thessaloniki, this year’s price of Obelia in view of the Easter holidays, is a field in which they cannot agree. The breeders, on the other hand, note that the cost of production has jumped to 9.90 euros/kg this year and emphasize that they cannot “get in” for another year, while the butchers emphasize that as a result of the reduction in the purchasing power of Greek consumers and the of general accuracy that prevails, even if they sell at last year’s prices, maybe after all “nobody” will buy.

Thus, despite the good intentions of both sides, it follows from today’s press conference that the butchers will not be able to satisfy the farmers’ request for a purchase at the price of 8-8.5 euros/kg, since this would mean that ” the final consumer price would be 14.80 euros/kg and who would be able to buy?”, they ask.

For their part, the livestock breeders understand the position being formulated, however, they declare that because they have been selling for a number of years at a price lower than the cost of production, the decrease in livestock recorded today in our country is already running at a fast pace and will intensify in the coming years, as a result”, as they typically argue, “it is not excluded that in the coming years there will be shortages in our country of local lamb goats. In any case, as far as prices of lambs from butchers are concerned, the landscape will have become completely clear on Maundy Monday 10 April 2023.

In the meantime, the supermarket chains already offer lambs and goats in the “household basket” at competitive prices, around 10 euros/kg, a development that provokes a strong reaction from butchers and breeders, who both agree and speak on this specific issue for “unfair competition”.

The press conference

“It is necessary to support the butcher shop in our neighborhood, where quality meat is available and thus we can be sure that we will eat properly”, pointed out during today’s press conference the president of the Professional Chamber of Thessaloniki (EETH), Michalis Zorpidis.

“Our sector has decided to squeeze its profit so that consumers can buy a quality product at affordable prices”, pointed out the president of the Panhellenic Federation of Butchers’ Store Managers (POKK), a member of the EETH board of directors, Savvas Kesidis. In fact, he urged Greek consumers to focus first on quality and then on price.

His position that this year’s development with the inclusion of lambs in the “household basket” at the price of 10 euros/kg marks “the end of the Greek breeder”, was expressed by the president of the Kastoria Livestock Cooperative of Cereal and Livestock Products of the prefecture, Dimitris Moschos, vice-president of the Hellenic Livestock Association (SEK). Regarding the matter, he announced that “we are also looking into the issue legally. Since the Minister of Development can determine the prices of the arrow, why doesn’t he do the same with fuel, energy and animal feed?”, he asked.

“80% of Greek production is traded through butchers. We should sell around 1-1.5 euros more than last year. We have come to an agreement with the biggest traders to keep the prices we will sell close to the cost of production, around 8.50 euros. Now we have reached to sell even below the cost of production”, underlined Mr. Moschos. Saying that already many breeders “regretted keeping animals for Easter”, he pointed out that “in the last 8 months alone, 3.5 million sheep and goats have left the Greek market, with an upward trend. I believe that from next year there will be shortages on the market.”

“The state made butchers a scapegoat. If we calculate a production cost of 8 euros/kilo from the breeders, we immediately arrive at a cost of 11.40 euros/kilo when the lamb reaches the butcher and if we include the butcher’s expenses (rent, electricity, etc.) without even talking for our own profit, the consumer price goes to 14.80 euros/kg”, noted the president of the Butchers’ Association of Thessaloniki, Nikolaos Balapanidis, stating his position that this year’s cost for the arrow will be close to 13 euros/kg.

Saying that “the market is balanced between supply and demand”, he underlined the imperative need to make a categorization for lambs and goats according to the quality of the lamb. He emphasized that with a state subsidy for Greek livestock feed, “justice” will come and he noted that “we butchers want to look our customers in the eye. The consumer must be suspicious if he sees very low prices for the quality of what he buys”. The head of the Working Consumers’ Union, Apostolos Rautopoulos, saying that the purchasing power of Greeks is reduced compared to last year by more than 40%, pointed out the lack of market controls.